Cotton arrivals rise 27% to 1.70 million bales, but import bottleneck threatens textile mills

Profit reported that Pakistan's cotton arrivals climbed to 1.696 million bales by August 31, 2026, a 27.01% increase on the year. The Pakistan Cotton Ginners' Association put the comparable figure for last year at about 1.35 million bales. Textile mills bought 1.464 million bales over the period, a 34% jump, while 332 ginning factories were operating.

Stakeholders credited better conditions, among them southwesterly winds, dry picking days and cooler nights, for stronger yields and fibre quality. Sanghar topped district arrivals with 757,000 bales, ahead of Dera Ghazi Khan and Vehari. Sindh and Balochistan together reached 1.139 million bales, while Punjab's tally grew 19.66% to 557,000 bales.

However, the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) warned that 400 to 500 imported cotton containers have been held at ports for more than a week. The holdup stems from a shortage of methyl bromide, the fumigant needed for the cargo, after Public Notice No. 49/2026 dated May 19 changed its classification. The chemical previously cleared with a sales tax exemption but now attracts 18% sales tax, and APTMA said the dispute was costing the industry more than Rs10 million per day.